Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry
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Project code: KCCG11 Client: Kerry County Council Date: June 2011 Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry. Surveyors: Ann Frykler & Robert Hanbidge Report Author: Robert Hanbidge Project code: KCCG11 Client: Kerry County Council Date: August 2011 Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry. Surveyors: Ann Frykler & Robert Hanbidge Report Author: Robert Hanbidge Report Status: Draft 1 Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd.: Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry. CONTENTS Page SUMMARY 3 1 INTRODUCTION 4 2 SITE DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION 5 3 METHODOLOGY 7 4 THE RESULTS 8 4.1 Boundaries 8 4.2 Entrance 8 4.3 Pathways 9 4.4 Desire lines 10 4.5 Named Tombs 10 4.6 Unnamed Tombs 11 4.7 Named Headstones and Plots 12 4.8 Unnamed Headstones and Plots 13 4.9 Named Gravemarkers 14 4.10 Unnamed Gravemarkers 14 4.11 Ruined church 14 4.12 Miscellaneous Items: 14 4.12 (i) Architectural Fragments 14 4.12 (ii) Possible Font/Bullaun 15 4.12 (iii) Miscellaneous 15 5 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT/ CONSERVATION 16 BIBLIOGRAPHY 18 FIGURES Figure 1 Site location map extract with RMP sites. Figure 2 Extract from OS 1st Edition 1846, Sheet 010 Figure 3 Extract from OS 2nd Edition 1898, Sheet 010‐03 Figure 4 Archaeological Survey Plan of Galey Graveyard Figure 4.1 Archaeological Survey Plan of Galey Graveyard PLATES Plate 1 View of carpark from west Plate 2 Exterior view of northwestern boundary from north Plate 3 Interior view of northwestern boundary from south Plate 4 Interior view of southwestern boundary Plate 5 Interior view of southeastern boundary Plate 6 Interior view of northeastern boundary Plate 7 View of possible font‐bullaun stone (Miscellaneous item No.06) within wall fabric, from southwest 1 Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd.: Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry. Plate 8 Detail to possible font‐bullaun stone from southwest Plate 9 View of entrance to graveyard from north Plate 10 View of graveyard entrance from southeast Plate 11 View of stile from west Plate 12 View of stile from east Plate 13 View of pathway from southwest Plate 14 Gravel path from northwest Plate 15 Desire line from northwest Plate 16 View of tomb (Grave No. 245), from southwest Plate 17 View of tomb (Grave No. 131), from northeast Plate 18 View of tomb (Grave No. 275), from south Plate 19 View of tomb (Grave No. 66), from west Plate 20 View of tomb (Grave No. 121), from south Plate 21 View of tomb (Grave No. 292), from west Plate 22 View of tomb (Grave No. 166), from south Plate 23 Oldest inscribed headstone (Grave No. 91), from east Plate 24 Detail to Grave No. 6, from east Plate 25 Detail to broken headstone to Grave No. 13, from east Plate 26 View of Grave No. 193, from east Plate 27 View of Grave No. 276, from northeast Plate 28 View of Grave No. 288, from east Plate 29 View of unnamed plot (Grave No. 19), from east Plate 30 View of Grave No. 7 Plate 31 View of Grave No. 118, from west Plate 32 View of Grave No. 255, from east Plate 33 Architectural fragment (Miscellaneous No. 04, Grave No. 321) Plate 34 Architectural Fragment (Miscellaneous No .05, Grave No. 322) Plate 35 Miscellaneous Item No. 01 (Grave No. 320) Plate 36 Famine Memorial from north APPENDICES Appendix 1 Named Graves: Headstones, Plots, Tombs, Gravemarkers Appendix 2 Unnamed Graves: Headstones, Plots, Tombs, Gravemarkers Appendix 3 Unnamed Tombs Appendix 4 Miscellaneous Items Appendix 5 Digital Archive (Attached DVD) 2 Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd.: Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry. SUMMARY Townland: Garryard Parish: Galey Barony: Iraghticonnor Local name of graveyard: Galey Burial Ground NGR: 95557/136831 RMP No.: KE010‐018 No. of named tombs: 7 No. of unnamed tombs: 7 No. of lintelled graves: 0 No. of named headstones and plots: 180 No. of unnamed headstones and plots: 18 No. of named gravemarkers: 2 No. of unnamed gravemarkers: 108 No. of architectural fragments: 2 No. of cross slabs: 0 No. of possible font/bullaun stones: 1 No of miscellaneous items: 3 3 Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd.: Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry. 1 INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of an archaeological survey conducted at Galey Burial Ground, Listowel, Co. Kerry (NGR: 95557/136831) (Figure 1). The work was undertaken on behalf of Kerry County Council, in accordance with survey specifications provided by the client. The report comprises a detailed survey including, if present, boundaries, location of paths and desire lines, gravemarkers, tombs, architectural fragments, remains of churches or buildings, dangerous areas of ground collapse and a photographic survey of headstones and gravemarkers linked back to survey drawings. Also included, if applicable, are written descriptions of: • buildings • cross‐slabs and early enclosures • statements on the condition of buildings • suggested suitable/necessary remedial action that may be needed to secure these structures • breaches of the boundary walls • open or collapsed tombs • the condition of paths and entrance gates. A photographic survey of damaged and dangerous structures or features is also included. 4 Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd.: Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry. 2 SITE DESCRIPTION AND LOCATION Galey Graveyard is located within the townland Garryard, Co. Kerry, situated approximately 3.15 km southeast of the village of Lisselton and approximately 4.5 km northwest of Listowel (Figure 1). The graveyard is positioned within a level plain which gradually becomes more undulating a kilometre from the graveyard. Located approximately 500 m to the southeast is the Galey River. The topography rises notably to the northwest where Knockanore Mountain, the highest mountain (267m) in the North Kerry region, is located approximately 7 km to the northeast. Beyond the town of Listowel to the southeast, the topography quickly rises to the Stack Mountains. Situated adjacent to a third class road, this graveyard has been recently extended to the northwest which doubling its size (Plate 1). The graveyard extension is set back from the road which allows for a reasonable amount of car parking. Both parts of the graveyard are quite open to the elements in all directions, with the surrounding land use including both pasture and tillage. A large area of forestry is located approximately 300 m to the northwest. Within the graveyard there are no visible remains of a church which appears and is labelled as ‘ruinous’ on the OS First Edition 6”Map Sheet 10 (1839) (Figure 2). On the later OS 25” Map Sheet 10‐ 03 (1910) (Figure 3), the church ruins are no longer visible and are labelled “Galey Church (Site of)”. The church is listed in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) as KE010‐801 while the graveyard itself is listed under KE010‐018001. Five other RMP sites are located within a 1 km radius of this graveyard. Two of these sites are located within the townland of Garryard. The closest is a prehistoric henge (KE010‐007) which is approximately 10 m to the north of the graveyard extension and measures 29 m north/south by 27 m east/west internally and is truncated to the north by a road (Toal 1995, 71). The second RMP, an enclosure (KE010‐019) is located approximately 430 m to the southeast. Outside of this townland, an enclosure (KE010‐040) in the townland of Inch East is located approximately 550 m to the south. Ringfort (KE010‐040), within the townland of Inch‐More, is located 800 m to the southeast and ringfort (KE010‐009), in the townland of Coolard, is located approximately 1 km to the northwest. Overall, the burial ground is in good condition with the grass recently cut, at the time of inspection. The maintenance of the grass is undertaken by people employed on a FAS Scheme. It was noticed during the time of this survey that a tractor and trailer was driven over the open area in the northern portion of the graveyard when the grass collection was been undertaken. This area of the graveyard does not contain many gravemarkers but is the location of many unmarked famine graves which are commemorated by a memorial close to the main entrance. Given the unknown amount of burials and the depth at which these burials occur (with the possibility of shallow graves), such heavy machinery may have a major impact on the integrity of these graves and it use in this area should be avoided. In contrast, the graveyard extension remains unattended and overgrown with long grass, brambles and nettles with one substantial ash tree growing in the western corner. The only exception is the western corner of the graveyard extension where burials are and the grass are maintained by locals. Historic Graveyard The boundaries of the original graveyard consist of rubblestone walls with rubblestone coping. The main entrance which is located midway along the northwestern boundary, fronts directly onto the road and is splayed in plan with concaved enclosing walls. The entrance consists of a pair of dressed rubblestone square‐profile piers with roughly dressed rubblestone coping and supports a single‐leaf wrought‐iron gate. Flanking the entrance to the east is an historic stile which consists of a number of flagstones protruding from the wall on both the northwest and southeast elevations. These form steps which give access over the wall. A recent gap to the north gives access to the and from the graveyard 5 Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd.: Archaeological Survey of Galey Graveyard, Listowel, Co. Kerry. extension as well as the car parking area. A modern concrete path extends around the graveyard inside the boundary walls.